Media Release

Federal Member for Kennedy Bob Katter said today that the ALP should make no assumptions that Billy Gordon, State Member for Cook, would be an ALP puppet in this State Parliament.

“In the last two cases where this occurred in the Federal parliament, there was never any question raised about the Member resigning,” Mr Katter said.

“So why was it assumed here that Billy Gordon would resign?

“I can’t help but think that the Queensland Government thought they had a little black puppet on a string.

“I think that they are going to find out that they have created a Gladiator.”

Mr Katter said that the KAP cross benches, along with Billy Gordon, will of necessity work extremely closely together.

“Where an independent becomes a rubber stamp for the Government, they destroy their independence.

“The very sad cases of Tony Windsor and Rob Oakeshott are classical examples.

“I can’t see Billy Gordon walking down that pathway.”

Mr Katter said that even without the balance of power, independents can achieve extraordinary results.

“The re-opening of the live cattle trade to Indonesia is one example.

“The classic case is the reversal of the decision to sell the Snowy Mountains. The Snowy arguably facilitates through irrigation half of Australia’s agricultural production and nearly a tenth of the nation’s vital peak load power.

“If Peter Andren and I had not been in the Parliament that decision would not have been reversed. The Australian people were responsible for the decision, but it could not have been achieved without the cross-benches.

“They represent the people, the rest represent the ALP and LNP corporations,” Mr Katter said.